U2: Death Threats, a Song that Inspired a Killer, and the Murder of Rebecca Schaeffer
Years before a free album made them the most unpopular popular band on the planet, U2 ran into the arms of America. In 1987, touring behind their blockbuster album The Joshua Tree, their songs became lightning rods for violence. They received death threats in the States and became targets of terrorists back in their native Ireland. But it was the song “Exit,” written from the POV of a killer, that was linked with pure evil. That song allegedly inspired a man to hop an overnight bus to Los Angeles, carrying a loaded .357 Magnum and a copy of The Joshua Tree, ready to do whatever it took to meet the women he was obsessed with.
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including descriptions of stalking.
This episode was originally published on November 14, 2023.
To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
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Bonus: The Next Incel Killer Already Has A Playlist
This episode is being published for the first time on Friday, November 7th. An episode of the same title was mistakenly published previously.
The media blamed AC/DC for inspiring a serial killer. Rebecca Shaefer’s murderer claimed inspiration from a U2 song. When the next incel murder happens, will we blame Morrissey? Radiohead? Or will we finally learn our lesson and treat the music as a mirror, and not a weapon? This topic, along with your voicemails, texts, and emails, and in the All Access portion, Jake and Zeth look into one of the weirdest social phenomena, “The My Way Killings,” where, for some reason, this mega Frank Sinatra hit has triggered numerous murders in the Philippines. You can become an All Access member and hear this and more exclusive content, along with ad-free listening of all Disgraceland episodes, by going to disgracelandpod.com and signing up via Patreon or Apple Podcasts.
To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Bonus: The Next Incel Killer Already Has A Playlist
The media blamed AC/DC for inspiring a serial killer. Rebecca Shaefer’s murderer claimed inspiration from a U2 song. When the next incel murder happens, will we blame Morrissey? Radiohead? Or will we finally learn our lesson and treat the music as a mirror, and not as a weapon? This topic, along with your voicemails, texts, and emails, and in the All Access portion, Jake and Zeth look into one of the weirdest social phenomena, “The My Way Killings,” where, for some reason, this mega Frank Sinatra hit has triggered numerous murders in the Philippines. You can become an All Access member and hear this and more exclusive content, along with ad-free listening of all Disgraceland episodes, by going to disgracelandpod.com and signing up via Patreon or Apple Podcasts.
To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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AC/DC Pt. 2: Dirty Deeds, Dead Friends, and Murder for Hire
This is the story of the greatest rock ’n’ roll band on earth. AC/DC was forged in discipline, sharpened by grief, resurrected by obsession … and nearly undone by one final dirty deed that no one saw coming: murder.
For a full list of contributors, visit disgracelandpod.com
To listen to Disgraceland ad free and hear an exclusive mini-episode about the making of Back in Black, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.
Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTER
Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND:
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To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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AC/DC pt. 1: A Satanic Serial Killer, A Police Man Hunt, and a Media Witch Hunt
In the 1980s, AC/DC’s biggest fan was a notorious serial killer. The band was an international best-selling hit machine, and members like the late Bon Scott and die-hard Angus Young became rock icons. But when the press caught wind of the disturbing fandom of the serial killer Richard “The Night Stalker” Ramirez, the news quickly dragged the world’s most fun, pure rock ‘n’ roll band straight down the highway to hell and into the center of a media firestorm around Satanic Panic and the inspirations of a murderer.
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault.
To see the complete list of contributors, visit disgracelandpod.com
This episode was originally published on February 21, 2023.
To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.
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Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND:
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To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
You know the myths. You’ve seen the biopics. But if you’re the kind of music fan who craves the rest of the story—the stuff they buried or cleaned up for streaming and theaters—this is your podcast. DISGRACELAND is the award-winning show that reveals the deeply human, highly dramatic, true crime–fueled chaos behind legendary musicians like Amy Winehouse, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sean “Diddy” Combs, the Grateful Dead, Blondie, and more. While we dig into the dark side, we do so with reverence for the artists—and an understanding of the extreme highs, lows, and personal costs that come with fame and making great art. This is music history like you’ve never heard it—edge-of-your-seat stories exploding with drama and the kind of information that’ll make you dangerous at dinner parties.
New, fully scripted and sound-designed episodes drop every Tuesday. On Thursdays, we hand the mic to you—and feature listener voicemails, texts, and emails in our interactive bonus episodes. And on Fridays, we revisit the wildest stories from our 250+ episode archive with “Rewind” drops that’ll transport you back into music history’s most entertaining moments.
DISGRACELAND is not a journalistic podcast—it’s an entertainment podcast inspired by true events. Certain dialogue and scenes are occasionally fictionalized for dramatic effect, as is common in scripted entertainment based on real stories. Sources and credits for each episode are available at www.disgracelandpod.com.
To hear every episode ad-free––and get access to exclusive exclusive, bonus, and behind the scenes content––the stories they don't want you to hear—become a Disgraceland All Access member at www.disgracelandpod.com/membership.
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